We believe that the successful singers, dancers, actors, producers, musicians and make-up artists of the future are practicing their craft on YouTube today. As we said recently, Partners are the heart of our platform, and we want to see even more of them take the next step in their YouTube careers and turn their video hobbies into careers or even businesses.

Today we’re announcing YouTube Next’s second initiative, designed exclusively for up-and-coming YouTube Partners: YouTube NextUp. YouTube NextUp is about accelerating the growth of the next big YouTube stars. Up to 25 Partners from around the United States will be selected for the development program, which offers:

$35,000 in funding to produce a new project, purchase new tools or advance their overall YouTube careers

A spot at a four-day YouTube Creator Camp in which they’ll benefit from 1:1 mentoring and learn an array of production techniques from leading industry and YouTube experts

Promotion of their final work and channel

The opportunity to become better connected with a special community of aspiring and talented content creators from around the world

We’re asking existing YouTube Partners to apply with a short (up to three minute) video that best represents their craft and the initiatives that they’d like to pursue on YouTube--whether it be a new brand of talk show, short film, or other type of new content. We’re also asking for short written responses that explain how they’ll use the $35,000, why they want to be part of the program, and what they hope to learn at the YouTube Creator Camp. Partners can apply at youtube.com/youtubenextup by midnight PT on March 27, 2011.

Our Partners succeed thanks to the support and interest of the YouTube community, so we’re encouraging the community to cast their votes on the long list of finalists from March 29 to April 8 at youtube.com/creators, to indicate who they want to see among the next generation of stars. And after this public voting ends, a final shortlist of Partners will go forward to the final round, judged by a panel of YouTube representatives. Final YouTube NextUp winners will be announced on April 20 at youtube.com/creators.

Who should apply? Up-and-coming Partners (those with less than 300,000 subscribers) who are committed to advancing their YouTube careers and to produce the next generation of fresh, compelling content. Last week, we announced another initiative from YouTube Next, the YouTube Creator Institute - please note that eligible Partners need to choose whether to apply for either that program or YouTube NextUp - sorry, you can’t apply for both! Full program and application rules are here.

Stay tuned for more YouTube Next initiatives over the coming months--both for Partners and creators in the United States and abroad. We’re excited to see what novel new online experiences and genre-pushing productions our talented Partners come up with. Apply today!

I seriousley want to be a youtube partner i just need to get in some more viewers any tips ive just started my first giveaway yesterday which lasts for 3 weeks then on the day of the winner im doing another give away of an ipod by the way im a tech reviewer i should tell you any tips on how to get more subscribers ?

This is great!!! We have just over 30k subscribers, so this is a fun opportunity. We were also wondering, how do the YouTube homepage videos get chosen to be featured? A couple of ours have been chosen, but didn't even realize it. We'd love to share our new 'Spring Into Bikini Season' that launched today on user ToneItUpcom. Thanks guys! We will spread the word on this great contest.

I love how most of the comments on here are people whining and complaining about it not being offered outside the US nor to nonpartners. Nonpartners have their own program. They're essentially investing money in undiscovered partners to promote them and then eventually earn their money back. As for countries, Google is based in America, and they can do whatever they want. It's their contest. Stop crying

Why don't they offer a contest to all of the people who are non-partners? The reward would be a Partnership, and maybe a little money on the side. Partners get enough attention already, I think the non-partners should get a chance to show that they are worthy.

Agreed its a great program from YT. I'm trying to set up a feature channel "Previral" where we vote on "the little guys" vids that are viraly funny but haven't been picked up and gone viral yet. When I get enough subs (and Im marketing the channel now and getting good feed back we will have enough subs to push a few vids viral per week. I'd like to do 2-3 live reviews per week featuring 3 "previral" vids in hopes to help turn them viral. There are a ton of great vids that just need a little help. Any suggestions for me are welcome but send them here dont post on the thread. http://www.youtube.com/user/previral?feature=mhum